Method of making roller bearings



y 1939- L. R. HEM 2,160,382

METHOD OF MAKING ROLLER BEARINGS Filed Aug. 1. 1936 INVENTOB v LewzsRHezm 7 BY v @M,QALQH9 ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1939 iiewis R. Heim,

Mount Dora, Fla.

Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. cam

Claims.

This invention relates to roller bearings and method of making the same.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a roller bearing which is simple and sturdy in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and thoroughly reliable and durable under conditions of rigorous and extended use. Another object of this invention is to provide a, roller bearing which requires a minimum amount of room for mounting and which, while sturdy and durable, isrelatively light in weight. Another object of the invention is to provide a roller bearing well adapted to efieot an anti-friction mount for small high speed shafts or the like, and which is easily lubricated under practically any operating conditions. Another object is to provide a roller bearing which may be fabricated from inexpensive materials. Another object of this invention is to provide a method of making a roller'bearing which is simple, inexpensive, thoroughly practical and readily carried out under high production requisites. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. 1

In the drawing, in which is shown several of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my roller hearing;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the bearing taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is 'a sectional elevation line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2, but showing a modification of my bearing; and, I

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig- Similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views ofthe drawmg. In order thata better understanding may be had .of the various might be well to point out here that numerous difficulties are encountered in the manufacture of small, light-weight bearings, particularly roller 5 bea'rings. Many of these bearings areunduly taken along ure 2, showing another modification of my bearfeatures of this invention, it,

complicated through the necessity of. providing various devices by which the rolls are held in their operating position. These roll retaining devices add materially to the cost of the bearing and complicate assembly thereof. Still other bearings necessitate extensive machining operations, which are not only time consuming, and accord- 'ingly expensive, but are also quite difiicult to effect with any degree of efficiency in a small bearing. It is also noted that many of thesesmall bearings readily become disassembled while being shipped, or upon installation, both of which materially inconvenience their commercial use. Still others present lubrication problems which are diflicult to solve by conventional methods. It is, of course, obvious that any anti-friction device must be perfectly round and this roundness is diflicult to obtain in the above-noted small machined bearings. ject of. this invention to rectify the above-noted conditions, as well as many others, in a thoroughly efficient and practical manner.

Referring to-Figure 1 of the drawing, my bearing comprises a one piece or unitary roll race ill, provided at oppositev ends with flanges I i and I2. Race I0 is accordingly substantially U-shaped in cross section, providing a' circular channel in which is disposed a plurality of rolls I3 (Figure 3). I

Rolls 43 (Figure 2) preferably diave flat ends I31: and Nb which are respectively adjacent flanges I I and i2, being spaced therefrom a sufficient distance to provide an operative clearance and also to provide space for oil or other lubricant. It may readily be seen that after rolls- I 3 are installed within the race, flanges II and I2 positively preclude axial displacement thereof.

To prevent radial displacement of rolls [3 from rolls in such manner that when a fullcomplement of rolls are installed within the race in a. manner to be pointed out hereinafter, the rolls overlap or interlock to ,a certain extent, thatis, each roll acts as a keystone to the remainder, .efi'ectively preventing radial displacement of the rolls. Thus, I do not have to provide any roll retaining device either as a separate part or as additional fabrication of the roll race or the flanges thereof. Furthermore, this full complement of rolls provides a maximum load-capacity for the bearing, and due to the non-displaceand installation of the bearing. It shouldalso be notedthat the unitary construction of race l0 results in a single thickness of metal, which not Accordingly, it is another obrace H), I'preferably dimension both the race and ability of the rolls, greatly facilitates shipment I only reduces the weight of the bearing, but also requires a minimum amount of room .for the mounting of the bearing. Furthermore, this unitary construction precludes disassembly 'of any part of the bearing. 7 i

As pointed out above, flanges Ii and I 2, in Figure 2, effectively prevent axial displacement of the rolls. However, as these flanges are square with the axis of the rolls, they function quite emciently in resisting a certain amount of end thrust and in effecting end location of the rolls. Furthermore, the flanges being square, there is no necessity for machining the ends of the rolls to eilfect conformity between the roll ends and adjacent flanges, all of which materially reduces the cost of production of the bearing, while increasing its carrying or load capacity per given length of bearing.

Preferably race "I and its flanges II and I2 are formed of flat sheet metal. Preferably the sheet metal is drawn or formed between male and female dies which press the flat, stock into a tube flanged at one end. Subsequent to this operation, the flange on the other end of the tube may be formed by spinning or another stamping operation. .It should be noted that from stamping, or drawing the sheet metal into the tubular form,as pointed out above, the inner and outer surfacesof race "become quite smooth,these surfaces in effect having a polished finish, which precludes in most instances the necessity of grinding operation to provide a:perfect tracking surface for rolls it. It should also be noted that the formation of a roll race by the above-noted method 'assures a perfectly round bearing race, the track-v ing surface of which is continuous axially and peripherally, and accordingly presents no cracks o'r corners which might detract from lohgbearing life. Furthermore, the above-noted method results in uniform bearing size for a large number" of units, and is particularlywell-adapted to high production requisites.

.ject the rolls to liquid air, dry ice or some other low temperature medium which contracts the rolls. A full complement of the cold rolls is then\ inserted in, the hot race, the high temperature of the race tending to heat thecold rolls to expand them, and the low temperature of the rolls tending to reduce the high temperature of the race to effect its contraction. Thus, one expands and the other contracts to result in the related assembly of the two and the attainment of. the overlapping or keystone relationship of the rolls within the race. Under still other circumstances,

. assembly may be eflected by inserting the chilled rolls without heating the race.

- It should 'further be noted, in connection with I the expansion-shrinking method of assembly,"

that it is possible under certain circumstances to accomplish at the same time .a'heat treating or hardening of the race, thus emciently saving'the time and expense which would otherwise be necessary in tempering the race by a separate opera- It will thus be seen that I have provided a unitary roller bearing having. a maximum roll capacity .and accordingly a maximum load capacity, the bearing furthermore being unitary and highly resistant to casual disassembling forces. Thus, storage, shipment and installation are greatly facilitated.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the bearing comprises a pair of shells generally indicated at H and 15. As these shells are substantially identical, shell I only will be described. Shell 14, accordingly, comprises a tubular portion a, havingformed on one end thereof a flange Mb. Shell I may be fabricated in any suitable manner as, for example, in the mannerpointed out in my copending application, Serial No. 735,802, flledJuly 18, 1934. Shell II comprises similarly a tubular portion lSa having a flange l5b formed on one of its ends.

Thus shells I I and I! are complementary-to one another in forming a roll race substantially U-shaped in crosssectlon and when in assembly have their adjacent ends llcand lie in abutting relationship. In assembling this bearing, I prefer to load either shell I or I! with a full complement of rolls II, the rolls and sheli'being so dimensioned that when the rolls are in place, the keystone relationship described hereinabove is effected. Thereafter the other shell is placed over the projecting ends of rolls it until edges lie and I50 of the shells abut. It should also be noted I that in thisbearing the, ends of rolls ii are flat and are preferably slightly spaced from adjacent flanges b and lib, for the same purpose as pointed out above with respect h) the bearing shown in Figures 1 and 2. i

In the bearing shown in Figure 5, I provide a shell generally indicated at II, which comprises a tubular portion I in having formed in one end thereof a flange 'l'lb. Shell l'l may be formed in any suitable manner, but preferably I employ the method described in my above-noted copending application. After the formation of shell ll, a

full complement of rolls ll is inserted in the open end of the shell until the rolls abut flange IIb. Here again I prefer to dimension rolls I. and shell II so that upon installation of all of the rolls they are maintained against radial displacement by the keystone relationship described hereinabove. After the rolls have been positioned in shell ",1 position a washer or annular ring II in the open end of shell I'I. Washer I! may be held within the shell inany suitable manner, but preferably is so dimensioned that it is maintained in its assembled or operative position by means of a force flt between its outenperiphe'ry and the inner periphery of shell II. It may now be seen that washer ll supplements flange =l'lb of the shell, preventing axial displacement of rolls l8.

. Under certain circlunstancesvit is possible to dispense with washer I. For example, where the right hand end of shell II as viewed in Figure 5 is positioned in a journal bored ina casting or the like and closed at one end, the closed end of the Journal eifectivelyprevents axial displacement of rolls II and the provision of'washer II is unnecessary. Similarly where the earing is mounted on a shaft provided .with, a shoulder,

such, shoulder may well be utilized to prevent axial displacement of rolls l8;-thus avoiding the 5 necessity of washer ll.

- It may now beseenthat in both of the bearings shown in Figures 4 and 5, simplicity and low cost ,of manufacture i achieved. both of these bearings are quite light in construction, though sufflciently strong and rigid to effectively withstand substantial loads.

It may further'be seen that I have provided a roller bearing, and method of making the same, which efi ectively accomplishes the several objects referred to hereinabove in a thoroughly eflicient and practical manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 7 7

1. 'rr e method of making a self-sustaining unitary roller bearing having an outer roll race only which includes the steps of forming a onepiece cylindrical roll race, forminga plurality of rolls, expanding said race radially,-inserting said rolls radially in said race in unseparated relationship, and contracting said race to effect an interlocking relationship between said rolls.

, 2. The method of making a self-sustaining unitary'roller bearing having an outer roll race only which includes the steps of forming a roll race whose tracking surface is continuous and unbroken circumferentially and axially, forming an integral flange on'each end of said race, forming a plurality of. rolls for installation in said race which when installed will maintain themselves in their operative position, each roll acting as a keystone to the others, and effecting atemperature differential between said race and said rolls to permit the radial installation of said rolls in said race between said flanges, said rolls assuming their keystone relationship upon the destruction of said temperature differential.

3. The method of making a self-sustaining unitary roller bearing having an outer roll race only which includes the steps of forming a roll race whose tracking surface is continuous and unbroken circumferentially and axially, forming an integral flange on each end of saidrace, forming -a plurality of rolls for installation in said race which when installed will maintain themselves in their operative position, each roll acting as a keystone to the others, heating the entire race to effect a radial expansion'thereof, and installing said rolls in said race between said flanges where- ,by upon cooling of said race the rolls become locked therein. 1

4. The herein described art which includes the steps of forming a roll race having a tracking surface unbroken axially and circumferentially, inturning the ends of said race toward the axis thereof to form integral flanges thereon, expanding said race radially, radially installing a complement of rolls in said race between said flanges, and contracting said race to bring said rolls into mutual keystone relationship whereby the rolls of themselves resist radial displacement.

5. The method of making a self-sustaining unitary roller bearing having an outer rollrace only, which includes the steps metal a single thickness roll race having uninterrupted and smooth inner and outer periphsteps of forming of stamping from sheet eries, bending the ends of said race to form integrally radially extending flanges thereon, said race and flanges forming an annular channel, and inserting a complement of rolls in said-channel, said rolls being so formed that when installed each acts as a keystone to the others to prevent radial displacement thereof.

6. The method of making a self-sustaining unitary anti-friction hearing which includes the steps'of forming a cylindrical roll race, forming a flange on each end of said race, chilling a complement of rolling members by immersing them in a cooling medium, and installing said chilled members in said race between said\ flanges so that when installed will maintain themselves in their operative position, each roll acting as a keystone to the others, and effecting a temperature differential between said race and said rolls to permit the installation of said rolls in saidrace between said flanges, said rolls assuming their keystone relationship upon the destruction of said temperature differential.

8. The method of making a self-sustaining unitary anti-friction bearing which includes the steps of forming a cylindrical roll race, forming a flange on each end of said race, forming a plurality of rolls for installation in said race which when installed will maintain themselves in their operative position, each roll acting as. a keystone to the others, and contracting said rolls by chilling them in a cooling medium to permit installation of the rolls in said rolls assuming their keystone relationship when expansion thereof occurs through elevation of the temperature.

and race between said flanges,

cylindrical roll race, forming a flange on each end of said race, forming a plurality of rolls for installation in said race, .eifecting a temperature difierential between said race and said rolls to eifect relative expansion of the race and contraction of the rolls, and installing said rolls in said race between the flanges thereof, whereby upon destruction of said temperature differential a relative expansion of the rolls and contraction of the race results.

' 10. Themethod of making a self-sustaining unitary anti-friction bearing which includes the a cylindrical roll race, forming a flange on each end of said race, chilling a complement of rolls by immersing them in a cooling medium, heating said race by immersing it in a heating medium,.and installing said chilled rolls in said heated race between the flanges thereof so that when the temperature of the rolls rises and the temperature of 'the race falls, the rolls will expand within the race and the race will contract about the rolls. 1

' I LEWIS R. HEIM. 

